This page: Catwork sanctuary for special
needs cats, especially FIV cats - now unable to accept new intakes,
we concentrate on helping others help these cats.

Catwork
The sanctuary

What is Catwork
?

Since 1996, Catwork has been a private independent sanctuary for cats
who need and deserve to be cared for but who, for various reasons,
have not been able to be rehomed as pets in a normal domestic home.
Without planning it, we became focused on helping cats which have the
FIV virus and also those with the FeLV virus (Leukaemia).

Catwork is run by Barbara and Bob Hunt. It is situated in the fairly
large garden at our home in Somerset (UK).

Catwork started as an extension of Barbara's natural love of cats, and
her not being prepared to sit back and do nothing when she heard of a
cat needing help.

Initially, Catwork operated as an independent rescue and rehoming
centre. Our first cat chalet was erected in 1995 and over the years
many cats passed through the centre, the major task then was always to
find good and suitable homes for each cat, meeting their individual
needs.

Catwork
evolved into a sanctuary

After a couple of years, the emphasis of our activities changed; our
homing activities diminished as there are a variety of other
organisations carrying out that function. We became concentrated on
the long stay hospice and sanctuary work. This came about for a number
of reasons, but mainly because we found that there are cats which, for
a variety of reasons, are not easily rehomed. These also seem to be
the cats which are not readily accepted by the other, mainstream,
organisations, so we felt that we should try to provide the sanctuary
they deserve.

We seem to have developed a speciality in cats with FIV (Feline
Immunodeficiency Virus) which is a much misunderstood virus, many cats
being unnecessarily euthanased due to over-reactions from a lack of
understanding. We have also been asked to help a number of cats with
the FeLV virus (leukaemia), as well as a few with psychological
problems rather than specific medical problems. All these cats fall
into the general term "special needs".

The accommodation

The sanctuary has evolved slowly over the years, it started with a
single timber chalet with small run around it in 1995, and has grown
constantly ever since!

As new cats arrived, they needed more and better accommodation and
facilities, so we adapted and extended what we had to make it work for
the next arrival - this happened over and over again!

We had no 'great plan' when we started, in fact we had no idea what
would develop, we were too busy coping with the next request for help.
In fact, nothing was planned at all, we would never have imagined it
would end up as it has - it just happened!

All these years later we have completely covered our fairly large
garden in accommodation, chalets and spaces for the cats in our care.

We now have two main areas, one for FIVs (known as the Fivery) and
another for FeLVs (known as the Felvery). The Fivery is about three
times the size of the Felvery as we have far more FIV cats, and they
live long lives, whereas we have fewer FeLV cats who, unfortunately,
often have shorter lives.

The accommodation comprises of a series of timber chalets of different
sizes, each with heating and lighting, and each fitted out with
different levels, cubby holes with lots of beds and vetbed, so they
have a huge choice as to where to be.

Each chalet - some larger, some smaller - has an enclosed area around
it that is open to the air, but has basic roofing over, so dry but
airy. These have various places for them to perch - either shelves or
old hutches - all a bit "higgledy-piggledy" (technical term!) - no
regimented rows here! - but they seem happy with it.

These areas are where they spend the night - mostly in small groups -
1, 2 or 3 in the smaller chalets and more in the larger.

Many of these areas are interlinked with small gates between, so there
is great flexibility to create different combinations of linked areas
- they can have larger areas, or be more confined, depending on the
situation and needs at the time.

During the daytime, all these areas open up on to the main garden
area, so all the cats have full freedom in the garden area and can mix
together (FIVs only in the Fivery and FeLVs only in the Felvery). They
can choose where to go and who to be with - so plenty of freedom to
just 'be cats'.

So this is how they live - we are often asked: "don't they all fight
each other?" The answer is: No, in all the time we have been doing
this, we have never had a serious fight, despite the fact that at
times, up to 20 cats are living together. Apart from a few minor
squabbles when a new one is finding his place in the pecking order,
they all get on famously! There are sometimes one or two individual
personality clashes, but because there is plenty of room and choice,
those individuals learn to stay away from each other, so no serious
problems in all these years!

Sorry, no vacancies!
Please note that we are unable to take in any more cats!
We have now reached saturation point! We simply do not have room for
any more. Also, we are both well past retirement age and have to be
responsible about our abilities!

If we took any more, it could be to the detriment of those already
here, so we have had to stop taking more in.

The sanctuary continues, and those cats that are here will, of course,
continue to receive our full attention. As they can live good long
lives, we suspect that many will be with us for several years to come.

Please don't give up on any cat; it may not be easy, but homes can be
found for FIVs. We need other people and groups to take up the cause
and to encourage others to find spaces for FIVs - even just a few
cats, multiplied by many areas and people, can help far more than we
ever could ourselves, so our next mission is to provide what
information, help and encouragement we can to increase the number of
places FIVs can go.

We continue to give advice and any help we can to those who come
across FIV, which is still, unfortunately, a misunderstood virus. If
you want to contact us to discuss how best to help FIVs, either in
general, or one specific cat, then we will be happy to share our
experience and offer any moral support we can give - we just can't
take any more cats!